tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post9161135946006529444..comments2023-10-04T01:56:18.484-07:00Comments on The Little Things: Mental SetAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540136429022445258noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-63735980579581986332011-08-01T04:53:21.000-07:002011-08-01T04:53:21.000-07:00Not entirely related, but I wanted to share my def...Not entirely related, but I wanted to share my definition of "rich." You are rich when, if your income suddenly increased by 50%, you would not spend your money any differently than you do now. A few people might be rich at a $60,000 income. A few people could never, ever be rich no matter how much they earned.Hanahhttp://civbooks.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-25527065188232844192011-08-01T08:19:01.000-07:002011-08-01T08:19:01.000-07:00Hanah, I love that benchmark. What a clever way to...Hanah, I love that benchmark. What a clever way to think about it! We're definitely not rich. :)Amyhttp://www.amymossoff.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-60871852921172049892011-08-01T09:22:26.000-07:002011-08-01T09:22:26.000-07:00An interesting read. I'm glad that you're...An interesting read. I'm glad that you're able to find something that works and that you have thoughtful people to suggest good ideas.Francis Luong (Franco)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-2142581814916081412011-08-01T09:43:07.000-07:002011-08-01T09:43:07.000-07:00In that case, I'm half-way to being rich!In that case, I'm half-way to being rich!Paul Hsiehhttp://www.geekpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-428740312538908692011-08-02T04:06:50.000-07:002011-08-02T04:06:50.000-07:00When I was growing up, my parents (especially my m...When I was growing up, my parents (especially my mother) always acted like we were poor, even though in retrospect, I've realized that we were pretty well off, and there was no reason for us to live as modestly as we did.<br><br>I'm not sure whether ultimately, it was a good thing--<br><br>Is that why I'm so careful about money and spending now?<br><br>Or could I have been substantially better off by having more opportunities and material goods growing up?<br><br>Today, I'm deathly afraid of carrying a balance on my credit card (I've never done it)--so much so that it's borderline irrational.<br><br>Whereas most people just buy the things they need/want, it takes me *forever* to make a decision, mostly, I think, because I'm petrified by the prospect of spending money that I haven't specifically budgeted months in advance.<br><br>Of course, today, I *am* somewhat poor--I have over $200,000 in student loan debt (thanks, law school), so any money that I make above what I need to live relatively comfortably, I have to put toward paying off my loans--so I have no real savings (except a little bit for emergencies). And I certainly can't buy myself nice things that 8-screen display for my computer, or that 60" TV, or that multi-room sound system, laser dentistry, or a BMW. I agonize over spending money on fixing my current car, getting a bluetooth headset, buying a new bed frame and mattress, etc.<br><br>And with the ongoing threat of the collapse of the US economy, I have no idea what attitude I should adopt.<br><br>So I often wonder whether my attitude toward money is rational or not; and moreover, how connected it is with how my family dealt with finances when I was a kid.Arthur Zeyhttp://www.objectivistnexus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-5952748070577169242011-08-02T04:11:05.000-07:002011-08-02T04:11:05.000-07:00If my income suddenly increased by 50%, I would be...If my income suddenly increased by 50%, I would be spending that 50% on paying off my student loans, which is what I do now. So I guess I'm rich!Arthur Zeyhttp://www.objectivistnexus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-36981235699655191312011-08-02T10:16:15.000-07:002011-08-02T10:16:15.000-07:00I totally identify with this post, as I've onl...I totally identify with this post, as I've only started getting over that mindset myself! My two year old loves blueberries and strawberries. When he started eating solids and I saw how much he liked them, I waffled in my head about how often to buy them because berries are "expensive." Then I realized I'm lucky that he likes such a healthy food, and we are almost "rich" by Hannah's definition (we save lots, mostly because we are satisfied with what we already have). I buy berries often now! Such a little thing, but it does make me feel a little bit "rich."Stephanie Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-30942036536284510232011-08-02T11:18:27.000-07:002011-08-02T11:18:27.000-07:00Stephanie, that is exactly what I'm talking ab...Stephanie, that is exactly what I'm talking about! Old habits are hard to break. And it's also a perfect example of a Little Thing.Amyhttp://www.amymossoff.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-27664179108290629822011-08-04T04:50:39.000-07:002011-08-04T04:50:39.000-07:00Great idea for the "nanny." Congrats on ...Great idea for the "nanny." Congrats on thinking of it and getting yourself some more time. And, just because I'm like a broken record on the subject, read the section on "vulnerability schema" in Reinventing Your Life. :) There may be a few useful tips on keeping the useful parts of this mentality while discarding of the elements of it that needlessly limit you from taking advantage of opportunities. One doesn't need to be seriously impaired or paralyzed by unrealistic thoughts to benefit from the book.larrynoreply@blogger.com